LRB-3453/1
ZDW:skw
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
October 14, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Marklein, Ballweg, Felzkowski,
Feyen, Jagler, Stroebel, Testin, Wanggaard and Darling, cosponsored by
Representatives Brooks, Born, Cabral-Guevara, Callahan, Edming,
Horlacher, James, Knodl, Magnafici, Milroy, Moses, Mursau, Novak,
Snyder, Spiros, Krug and Wichgers. Referred to Committee on Sporting
Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues.
SB610,1,1 1An Act relating to: administrative rules relating to hunting wild turkeys.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to modify
administrative rules relating to the hunting of wild turkeys to combine hunting
zones and seasons and to modify youth hunting restrictions.
Current DNR rules create a spring open season for the hunting of wild turkeys
that begins on the third Wednesday in April and continues Wednesday through
Tuesday of the following week for six consecutive seven-day time periods. The bill
requires DNR to combine the six periods into two periods. The first period would last
for two weeks and be open only to those issued hunting licenses and authorizations
under the cumulative preference system. The second period would last for four
weeks, during which hunting licenses and authorizations would be issued to
applicants in the order in which applications are received, regardless of accumulated
preference points.
Current DNR rules provide that a person under the age of 16 who possesses the
necessary approvals may hunt turkeys for two consecutive days starting on the
Saturday before the beginning of the spring turkey hunting season. If the person
does not successfully harvest a turkey during the youth hunt, the authorization
remains valid during the time period and in the zone for which the authorization was
issued. The bill requires DNR to provide that the authorization remains valid in the
same hunting zone during both hunting periods that follow the youth hunt.
Current DNR rules create seven wild turkey hunting zones. The bill requires
DNR to create a southern zone, to consist of current zones 1 to 3, and a northern zone,
to consist of current zones 4 to 7.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB610,1 1Section 1. Nonstatutory provisions.
SB610,2,22 (1) Wild turkey hunting rules.
SB610,2,133 (a) Open seasons. The department of natural resources shall modify
4department administrative rules relating to the open season for hunting wild
5turkeys to combine the six hunting periods currently authorized into two periods.
6The first period shall be for two consecutive weeks and shall be open for hunting wild
7turkeys only by individuals issued wild turkey hunting licenses and authorizations
8under the cumulative preference system under s. 29.164 (3). The second period shall
9immediately follow the first period and shall be for four consecutive weeks. For the
10second period, the department of natural resources shall issue wild turkey hunting
11licenses and authorizations to applicants in the order in which applications are
12received and regardless of any points accumulated under the cumulative preference
13system under s. 29.164 (3).
SB610,2,1714 (b) Hunting zones. The department of natural resources shall modify
15department administrative rules relating to wild turkey hunting zones to create a
16southern zone, to consist of current zones 1 to 3, and a northern zone, to consist of
17current zones 4 to 7.
SB610,3,218 (c) Youth turkey hunt. The department of natural resources shall modify
19department administrative rules relating to the youth turkey hunt to provide that
20a youth who does not successfully harvest a turkey during the youth hunt may use

1his or her harvest authorization in the same hunting zone during both hunting
2periods that follow the youth hunt.
SB610,3,53 (d) Deadline. The department shall complete the promulgation of rules as
4required under this subsection so that the rules will first apply to the 2023 spring
5wild turkey hunting season.
SB610,3,66 (End)
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